CHAPTER 650: CHAPTER 313: THE CONTINUAL DECLINE OF THE SOVIET UNION

The United States indeed played a ruthless move.

But the Soviet Union had no other choice.

They could only alleviate the internal food crisis by exchanging gold with other federations or countries for food.

Yet in just this one year,

70% of the gold reserves were consumed.

What about next year?

What to do?

Even if they wanted to continue using gold for exchange, there was not enough gold.

Not enough gold...

Should they exchange various technologies instead?

Hiss—

That’s even less likely.

The United States’ move was too insidious, leaving no space for maneuver.

Many Blue Star netizens put themselves in the shoes of the Soviets and realized there were no good solutions. Even if they made it through this year, the next year would still be problematic.

Moreover, it’s impossible to exchange technology for food.

That’s the foundation of the Soviet Union’s standing.

In the past, it was exactly after World War I when they acquired technology from the Western camp, leading to the Soviet Union gradually catching up.

How could the Soviet Union allow its various technologies to be traded away for food?

This is real trouble.

The Blue Star netizens are thinking about this.

Meanwhile, Yu Feng continued saying:

"This year, it’s not just the food crisis."

"Unrest in Eastern Europe intensified due to the ongoing issues in Poland, forming a chain reaction, causing significant turmoil in various Eastern European countries."

"It’s shaking the foundations of the Soviet Union."

"But the Soviet Union could no longer spare any efforts at this time."

"The food crisis, combined with being bogged down in the Afghanistan war quagmire, left no room to deal with Eastern European matters."

"They could only let them develop on their own."

"In this year."

"The only thing that could be considered a ’win’ for the Soviet Union was the deployment of over 240 S-20 missiles, reaching a new high."

"Able to strike key targets in Western Europe within 10 minutes."

"How should I put it...."

"This isn’t exactly good news, as it’s still just military expansion."

"But considering the various issues encountered this year, this could be considered the only piece of good news."

"Military deterrence has been increased."

Yu Feng continues speaking.

The netizens in the live broadcast don’t know what to say either.

This....

Indeed.

Compared to all the other vexing matters this year, this is the only thing worth mentioning.

But military deterrence can’t feed people.

Military deterrence can’t solve the food crisis either.

They can only take it one step at a time.

Yu Feng continues to say:

"Due to the food crisis, since 1980, the Soviet Union started experimenting with food ration supply."

"Then in 1981, this measure was expanded and implemented in several major cities across the country."

Yu Feng flips through the data and continues:

"Then came 1982."

"This year."

"The food crisis still wasn’t resolved."

"But within the Soviet Union, efforts to seek solutions began."

"Of course."

"The effect was limited."

"The new leaders of the Soviet Union initiated reforms upon taking office."

"Mainly targeting corruption issues and increasing light industrial production, trying to alleviate domestic pressure."

"Although these measures were effective,"

"The Soviet Union was too vast, and the impact was minimal."

"Meanwhile."

"Some reforms touched on the interests of the ’Military-Industrial Complex’ groups."

"So there was significant resistance later on."

"We can only say the impact wasn’t great."

"This year."

"The Soviet Union began signaling an easing of relations with the Republic in public speeches, although no substantial progress has been made yet."

"But surely, it’s laying the groundwork for easing relations later."

"It’s expected that after suffering these setbacks, the Soviet Union realized they still needed allies."

"Then the rationing system was rolled out comprehensively."

"Starting this year, long queues became a common sight in major cities of the Soviet Union."

"Queueing for buying food supplies became the norm."

"Hmm.... how should I put it."

"It’s symptomatic treatment, not a cure."

"The root cause remains insufficient food, which hasn’t been resolved."

Yu Feng looks at the data and turns a page:

"Then came 1983."

"This year."

"The Soviet Union was out of luck again."

Yu Feng shakes his head and then speaks:

"First, there was a catastrophic misjudgment."

"The Soviet Union’s air defense system locked onto a deviating civilian technology, resulting in the entire crew of over 200 people perishing, and all were foreign civilians."

"This incident."

"Caused the Soviet Union to be condemned worldwide, demanding a thorough investigation."

"And such a mistake."

"Dealt a heavy blow to the Soviet Union’s reputation."

"Immediately after."

"There was a simulation by NATO, which the Soviet Union misjudged as a real nuclear strike, raising the preparedness level to the highest domestically."

"Frankly speaking."

"This was the second life-or-death decision faced by human beings on ’Earth’ since the Cuban Missile Crisis."

"Because if they acted impulsively."

"A nuclear war could have erupted immediately between the Soviet Union and the United States."

"Fortunately, in the end, the Soviet Union clarified it as a misjudgment."

"But two misjudgments in just a few months."

"The consequences were quite severe."

Yu Feng shakes his head.

This....

How to say it.

It’s really the case of when misfortune strikes, difficulties pile up even when drinking cold water.

However, it also relates to the major principle of the Soviet Union itself. One time was a misjudgment of a deviating aircraft, resulting in the shootdown of the plane, killing over 200 civilians.

The other time was mistaking an exercise for a nuclear strike, leading to nationwide alert and nearly triggering a nuclear war.

Each was quite a serious mistake.

They should never have happened.

But they did happen, and one after another.